Sand Sharks to host opening-round series

The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team is going to its second NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round.

Or more appropriately, the National Championship Opening Round is coming to the Sand Sharks.

USCB was selected to host one of nine opening round sites, the NAIA announced Sunday. By hosting the opening round, the Sand Sharks are guaranteed at least an at-large bid and will be one of five teams vying for a spot in the Avista-NAIA World Series from May 10-14 at Hardeeville’s Richard Gray Sports Complex.

“It is a great honor for the University of South Carolina Beaufort,” Chancellor Jane Upshaw said. “Our baseball team has played exceptionally well, and they deserve this home-field advantage.

“The entire Lowcountry deserves this opportunity to be able to see their home team play for the big prize,” Upshaw added. “This region, particularly Beaufort and Jasper counties, has brought us to this place, and we are grateful for their continued support. And the city of Hardeeville provides a great venue as the home of the Sand Sharks.”

Each of the nine sites will host a five-team, double-elimination tournament with the nine winners advancing to join host Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in the Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, from May 25-June 1. USCB is one of three first-time hosts this year.

USCB athletics director Ty Rietkovich said he expects a positive response from the community in terms of recruiting volunteers to help put on the tournament, which he called “a huge undertaking” for the athletics department.

Baseball coach Bryan Lewallyn expressed his gratitude to Upshaw, Rietkovich and athletics business manager Genia Montford, who prepared USCB’s bid, as well as the NAIA.

“Most of all, I’m extremely proud of the players for putting in the effort every day to be the best they possibly can be,” Lewallyn said. “I’m extremely happy for them to get the chance to play at home in the postseason. This is a great step for such a young program and university.”

The list of 46 opening round qualifiers and their assignments will be released May 6.